Rev Xi An Poon
今天創世記31章讓我們看見雅各生命中一個重要的轉折。
很多時候，人生的轉折不是突然出現的，而是在一些細微的改變中慢慢顯明。人的說話改變了，人的態度改變了，關係的氣氛也不再像從前。這些處境有時會令人不安，也會令人想立刻反應；但屬神的人最需要的，不只是回應人的說話或環境的壓力，而是分辨神是否正在其中提醒我們。
過去雅各第一次離開父家，是因為欺騙帶來衝突，甚至面對生命危險。那一次的離開，帶著逃避、懼怕和無可奈何。
但到了創世記31章，雅各再次面對離開，情況已經不一樣。這一次，他仍然遇到拉班家的不公平，仍然看見人的態度改變，也仍然帶著懼怕；但最重要的是，神親自介入，神親自說話，神呼召他起來，走回應許的路。
神對雅各說：「凡拉班向你所作的，我都看見了。」
這句話非常寶貴。神看見雅各二十年來的勞苦，看見他被拉班多次更改工價，看見他在拉班家中被壓制、被操控、被不公平對待。神不是沒有看見，神也不是忘記祂在伯特利曾經給雅各的應許。
今天這段經文提醒我們三件事：
一、在處境中，聽見神的提醒
雅各聽見拉班兒子們的說話，也看見拉班的氣色不如從前。人的說話變了，人的態度變了，整個環境的氣氛也變了。
但雅各不能只停在人的臉色和環境的壓力中。經文接著說：「耶和華對雅各說。」
很多時候，神也會藉著處境提醒我們。當一些環境、關係或模式已經不再一樣，我們需要學習分辨：神是否正在提醒我，要重新回到祂的方向裡？
二、在呼召中，跟上神的帶領
神對雅各說：「我是伯特利的神……現今你起來離開這地、回你本地去罷。」
神不是只叫雅各離開拉班家，而是要他走回祂應許的路。這不是逃避，而是回應；不是衝動，而是順服；不是單單脫離問題，而是跟上神的帶領。
當神已經說話，人就不能只停留在分析環境。當神已經呼召，人就需要起來，跟上祂的帶領。
三、在不完全中，倚靠神的信實
雅各雖然回應神的呼召，但他仍然帶著懼怕，選擇秘密離開。拉結也偷了父親家中的神像，把舊有的偶像和安全感帶在路上。
這讓我們看見，神呼召人起來的時候，人不一定已經完全成熟。人裡面可能仍有懼怕，仍有舊有的倚靠，仍有未整理好的地方。
但神的信實不會因人的不完全而停止。神在夢中警告拉班，不可對雅各說好說歹，保護雅各繼續走在回應許的路上。
今天，神也呼召我們起來，走回應許路。也許我們仍不完全，仍有懼怕，仍有很多需要被神整理的地方；但只要我們願意回應祂的呼召，神必在路上繼續帶領、保護和建立我們。
讓我們今天不再只看人的臉色，不再只被環境牽動，也不再因自己的不完全而失去盼望。神既然看見，神既然說話，神既然呼召，我們就要起來，走回祂的應許路。
親愛的天父，感謝祢藉著創世記31章提醒我們，祢是看見人的神。祢看見雅各的勞苦，也看見他所受的不公平；祢更看見他的懼怕和不完全。
主啊，求祢幫助我們在不同的處境中，不只是看人的說話、人的臉色和環境的壓力，而是能夠聽見祢的提醒。
若祢正在呼召我們起來，求祢賜給我們順服的心，跟上祢的帶領，走回祢應許的路。
主啊，我們承認自己仍然不完全，裡面仍有懼怕，仍有自己的方法，也仍有許多需要被祢整理的地方。但我們感謝祢，祢的信實大過我們的軟弱，祢的應許不因我們的不完全而停止。
求祢帶領我們起來，走回應許路，在祢的同在中重新得力，在祢的信實中繼續前行。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 31
1 雅各聽見拉班的兒子們有話說：「雅各把我們父親所有的都奪了去，並藉著我們父親的，得了這一切的榮耀。」 2 雅各見拉班的氣色向他不如從前了。 3 耶和華對雅各說：「你要回你祖你父之地，到你親族那裡去，我必與你同在。」 4 雅各就打發人，叫拉結和利亞到田野羊群那裡來， 5 對她們說：「我看你們父親的氣色向我不如從前了，但我父親的神向來與我同在。 6 你們也知道，我盡了我的力量服侍你們的父親。 7 你們的父親欺哄我，十次改了我的工價，然而神不容他害我。 8 他若說有點的歸你做工價，羊群所生的都有點；他若說有紋的歸你做工價，羊群所生的都有紋。 9 這樣，神把你們父親的牲畜奪來賜給我了。 10 羊配合的時候，我夢中舉目一看，見跳母羊的公羊都是有紋的、有點的、有花斑的。 11 神的使者在那夢中呼叫我說：『雅各！』我說：『我在這裡。』 12 他說：『你舉目觀看，跳母羊的公羊都是有紋的、有點的、有花斑的，凡拉班向你所做的，我都看見了。 13 我是伯特利的神，你在那裡用油澆過柱子，向我許過願。現今你起來，離開這地，回你本地去吧。』」 14 拉結和利亞回答雅各說：「在我們父親的家裡還有我們可得的份嗎？還有我們的產業嗎？ 15 我們不是被他當做外人嗎？因為他賣了我們，吞了我們的價值。 16 神從我們父親所奪出來的一切財物，那就是我們和我們孩子們的。現今凡神所吩咐你的，你只管去行吧。」
17 雅各起來，使他的兒子和妻子都騎上駱駝， 18 又帶著他在巴旦亞蘭所得的一切牲畜和財物，往迦南地他父親以撒那裡去了。 19 當時拉班剪羊毛去了，拉結偷了他父親家中的神像。 20 雅各背著亞蘭人拉班偷走了，並不告訴他， 21 就帶著所有的逃跑。他起身過大河，面向基列山行去。
22 到第三日，有人告訴拉班：「雅各逃跑了。」 23 拉班帶領他的眾弟兄去追趕，追了七日，在基列山就追上了。 24 夜間，神到亞蘭人拉班那裡，在夢中對他說：「你要小心，不可與雅各說好說歹。」 25 拉班追上雅各。雅各在山上支搭帳篷，拉班和他的眾弟兄也在基列山上支搭帳篷。 26 拉班對雅各說：「你做的是什麼事呢？你背著我偷走了，又把我的女兒們帶了去，如同用刀劍擄去的一般。 27 你為什麼暗暗地逃跑，偷著走，並不告訴我，叫我可以歡樂、唱歌、擊鼓、彈琴地送你回去？ 28 又不容我與外孫和女兒親嘴。你所行的真是愚昧！ 29 我手中原有能力害你，只是你父親的神昨夜對我說：『你要小心，不可與雅各說好說歹。』
30 現在你雖然想你父家，不得不去，為什麼又偷了我的神像呢？」 31 雅各回答拉班說：「恐怕你把你的女兒從我奪去，所以我逃跑。 32 至於你的神像，你在誰那裡搜出來，就不容誰存活。當著我們的眾弟兄，你認一認，在我這裡有什麼東西是你的，就拿去。」原來雅各不知道拉結偷了那些神像。
33 拉班進了雅各、利亞並兩個使女的帳篷，都沒有搜出來，就從利亞的帳篷出來，進了拉結的帳篷。 34 拉結已經把神像藏在駱駝的馱簍裡，便坐在上頭。拉班摸遍了那帳篷，並沒有摸著。 35 拉結對她父親說：「現在我身上不便，不能在你面前起來，求我主不要生氣。」這樣，拉班搜尋神像，竟沒有搜出來。
36 雅各就發怒斥責拉班說：「我有什麼過犯，有什麼罪惡，你竟這樣火速地追我！ 37 你摸遍了我一切的家具，你搜出什麼來呢？可以放在你我弟兄面前，叫他們在你我中間辨別辨別！ 38 我在你家這二十年，你的母綿羊、母山羊沒有掉過胎。你群中的公羊，我沒有吃過。 39 被野獸撕裂的，我沒有帶來給你，是我自己賠上。無論是白日，是黑夜，被偷去的，你都向我索要。 40 我白日受盡乾熱，黑夜受盡寒霜，不得合眼睡著，我常是這樣。 41 我這二十年在你家裡，為你的兩個女兒服侍你十四年，為你的羊群服侍你六年，你又十次改了我的工價。 42 若不是我父親以撒所敬畏的神，就是亞伯拉罕的神與我同在，你如今必定打發我空手而去。神看見我的苦情和我的勞碌，就在昨夜責備你。」
43 拉班回答雅各說：「這女兒是我的女兒，這些孩子是我的孩子，這些羊群也是我的羊群，凡在你眼前的都是我的。我的女兒並她們所生的孩子，我今日能向他們做什麼呢？ 44 來吧，你我二人可以立約，做你我中間的證據。」 45 雅各就拿一塊石頭立做柱子， 46 又對眾弟兄說：「你們堆聚石頭。」他們就拿石頭來堆成一堆，大家便在旁邊吃喝。 47 拉班稱那石堆為伊迦爾撒哈杜他，雅各卻稱那石堆為迦累得。 48 拉班說：「今日這石堆做你我中間的證據。」因此這地方名叫迦累得， 49 又叫米斯巴，意思說：「我們彼此離別以後，願耶和華在你我中間鑒察。 50 你若苦待我的女兒，又在我的女兒以外另娶妻，雖沒有人知道，卻有神在你我中間做見證。」 51 拉班又說：「你看我在你我中間所立的這石堆和柱子。 52 這石堆做證據，這柱子也做證據。我必不過這石堆去害你，你也不可過這石堆和柱子來害我。 53 但願亞伯拉罕的神和拿鶴的神，就是他們父親的神，在你我中間判斷。」雅各就指著他父親以撒所敬畏的神起誓， 54 又在山上獻祭，請眾弟兄來吃飯。他們吃了飯，便在山上住宿。 55 拉班清早起來，與他外孫和女兒親嘴，給他們祝福，回往自己的地方去了。
Today, Genesis 31 shows us an important turning point in Jacob’s life.
Many times in life, we do not arrive at a turning point suddenly. Slowly, we begin to notice that people’s words have changed, attitudes have changed, and the atmosphere around us is no longer the same. In those moments, we need more than a reaction to people or circumstances. We need to hear what God is saying.
In the past, when Jacob first left his father’s house, he left because of deception, conflict, and danger. He had taken the blessing by his own way, and Esau wanted to kill him. That departure was filled with fear, escape, and helplessness.
But in Genesis 31, Jacob is facing another departure. This time, the situation is different. He is still facing unfair treatment from Laban. He can see that people’s attitudes have changed. He is still carrying fear in his heart. Yet the most important thing is this: God Himself steps in, speaks to Jacob, and calls him to arise and walk back to the road of promise.
God says to Jacob, “I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.”
This is very precious. God saw Jacob’s twenty years of labour. God saw how Laban changed his wages again and again. God saw how Jacob was pressured, controlled, and treated unfairly in Laban’s house. God had not forgotten Jacob. God had not forgotten the promise He gave him at Bethel.
Today, this passage reminds us of three things.
- In our situation, hear God’s reminder
Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, and he saw that Laban’s attitude toward him was no longer the same as before. People’s words had changed. People’s faces had changed. The whole atmosphere had changed.
But Jacob could not only stay focused on people’s faces and the pressure of the situation. The Scripture then says, “The Lord said to Jacob.”
Many times, God also reminds us through our situations. When an environment, a relationship, or a pattern is no longer the same, we need to learn to discern: Is God reminding me to return to His direction?
- In God’s calling, follow His leading
God said to Jacob, “I am the God of Bethel… Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.”
God was not only telling Jacob to leave Laban’s house. God was calling him to walk back to the road of promise. This was not escape, but response. This was not impulse, but obedience. This was not only about leaving a problem, but about following God’s leading.
When God has spoken, we cannot only remain in analysing the situation. When God has called, we need to arise and follow His leading.
- In our imperfection, rely on God’s faithfulness
Jacob responded to God’s calling, but he still carried fear. He left secretly. Rachel also stole her father’s household idols and brought with her something from the old environment and the old sense of security.
This shows us that when God calls a person to arise, that person may not yet be fully mature. There may still be fear, old dependencies, and unfinished areas in the heart.
But God’s faithfulness does not stop because of human imperfection. God warned Laban in a dream not to speak either good or bad to Jacob. God protected Jacob so that he could continue walking back to the road of promise.
Today, God also calls us to arise and walk back to promise. We may still be imperfect. We may still have fear. There may still be many areas in our lives that God needs to shape and restore. But as long as we are willing to respond to His calling, God will continue to lead us, protect us, and build us on the way.
Let us not only look at people’s faces. Let us not be controlled by the pressure of the environment. Let us not lose hope because of our own imperfection. Since God has seen, since God has spoken, and since God has called, let us arise and walk back to His road of promise.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for speaking to us through Genesis 31. You are the God who sees. You saw Jacob’s labour, and You saw the unfair treatment he experienced. You also saw his fear and imperfection.
Lord, help us in different situations not only to look at people’s words, people’s faces, and the pressure around us, but to hear Your reminder.
If You are calling us to arise, give us a heart of obedience to follow Your leading and walk back to the road of Your promise.
Lord, we acknowledge that we are still imperfect. There is still fear in us. We still have our own ways, and there are still many areas that need to be shaped by You. But we thank You that Your faithfulness is greater than our weakness, and Your promise does not stop because of our imperfection.
Lead us to arise and walk back to promise. Strengthen us in Your presence, and help us continue forward in Your faithfulness.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Genesis 31
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28 And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’ 30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.
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